Stretching tool



Nov. 22, 1960 c. SCHROEDER 2,961,215

swas'rcamc TOOL Filed July 1, 1957 INVENTOR Charles fi'chroederZZTTORNEY United States Patent F STRETCHING TOOL Charles Schroeder,Flushing, NY. 901 E. 135th St., Bronx, N.Y.)

Filed July 1, 1957, Ser. No. 669,051

4 Claims. (Cl. 254-79) This invention relates to a furnitureupholstering tool and more particularly to a tool of the type intendedto be used in connection with the operation of applying resilient lacingstrips to furniture frames.

More particularly, this invention relates to a tool which may be usedfor stretching and maintaining the free end of a lacing strip to beapplied to the frame of a piece of furniture preparatory to fasteningthe same, the other end of the strip having been previously anchored.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a tool of the typedescribed which may be produced at' a low 'cost and which isparticularly adapted for use in con--.

junction with lacing strips of the type shown in Patent No. 2,278,903 ofApril 7, 1942.

Known to me are tools of the general type described, as may beexemplified by Patent No. 2,327,143 of August 17, 1943. While such toolsare eflicient and useful to the professional worker in the furnitureupholstering field, the recent trend toward home-craftsmanship and do ityourself projects, has created a demand for a tool which will accomplishthe same results as the tool described in the aforesaid patents, yet maybe so economically manufactured as to make its purchase attractive toamateur upholsterers who intend to undertake only an occasionalfurniture fabricating or repairing project.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a furnitureupholstering tool which is adapted to be used in conjunction with theoperation of stretching and maintaining lacing strips. A further objectof my invention is to provide a tool of the type described which issimple of construction and may be economically manufactured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a stretching toolof the type described which is adapted to carry out the stretchingoperation and to compensate for slight errors in the lateral alignmentof the lacing strips, thereby assuring efficient and accurateapplication of the lacing strip, without special and costly jigs orappliances.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe fully pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device, with a lacing strip in theuntautened position;

Figure 2 is a magnified side elevational view of my device, maintaininga lacing strip in the tautened position;

Figure 3 is a further magnified end elevational view of my device,showing details of the lacing strip holder;

Figure 4 is a plan view of my device with the holding pin removed.

In my invention, a rigid member 10, preferably fabricated of wood orlike relatively inexpensive material, is provided, of a length readilysupported by the palm of the hand, having at one end a transverse cutoutdefining the curved branches or jaws 11 and 12. The jaws 11 and 12, attheir edges, are medially, laterally grooved to "ice define end sockets13 and 14. The opposite end 15 of the member 10 may be rounded or bebevelled as at 16 and 16a, to present a surface relatively free fromsharp points likely to mar the finish of the frame 17 of a chair.

A pin 18, of steel or other metal, is adapted to be seated within thesockets 13, 14 of the jaws 11, 12.

My device is illustrated as used with lacing strips made in accordancewith an embodiment covered by Patent No. 2,327,143 of August 17, 1943,but my invention should not be taken to be restricted to use with suchlacing strips.

To apply a lacing strip with my device, it is merely necessary to anchorone end 19 of the strip 20 by nailing or otherwise at a desired point onone side of a frame 17 (see Figure l). The pin 18 is then passed throughan appropriate loop 21 in the lacing strip 20, andthe bevel 16positioned to abut the frame 17, with the member 10 directed angularlyupward. In this position, the extended ends 22, 23 of the pin 18 may beseated in the corresponding sockets 13, 14 of the member 10.

The strip 20 is tautened by forcing the member 10 to describe a verticalarc, using the bevel edge 16- initially as the fulcrum, until the end 15of the member 10 lies flush in abutting position against the frame 17.If more tautening is necessary, the member 10 'may be depressd' further.(see :Figure'Z), the eccentricity of the lower bevel 16a to the anchorpoints 13 and 14 acting as the fulcrum point for such further pivoting.

It will be readily recognized that the provision of spaced fulcrumpoints provides a great mechanical advantage, thereby facilitating thestretching operation, and when the end 16 is flat, at 16b, a point oftemporary stability is provided to ease the labor of the stretchingoperation.

It has been determined that lacing strips are most efiiciently appliedwhen they run as nearly as possible parallel to the walls forming theframe 17 and, accordingly, it has hereto been found necessary carefullyto measure the points of application for the strips on the opposed wallsof the frame in order to assure such parallel application. In order toovercome this need for careful measurement, I have provided a devicewhich automatically corrects minor alignment errors, thereby assuringaccurate installation.

It should be noted that the loops 21 of the strip 20 are of a size topermit easy insertion of the pin 18, sufficient clearance being allowedto permit relatively low frictional resistance to lateral sliding of thepin 18 in a loop 21. When a misaligned strip 20 is tautened as abovedescribed, an edge of the strip 20 will be forced into contact with oneor the other of the curved surfaces 24 or 25 of the jaws 11 and 12,respectively.

Further swinging of the member 10 will cause the strip 20 to be cammedin a direction tending to align the strip in parallelism with the frame17, the sliding fit of the loops 21 and pin 18 operating to facilitateshifting in the direction needed.

The jaws 11, 12 also tend to augment the grip of my device on a lacingstrip by Wedging the strip between the curved portions 24, 25 thereof,thereby restraining the strip, in a measure, against untoward release.

With the strip 20 maintained by my device in the position shown inFigure 2, the unanchored end may be nailed or otherwise affixed to theframe 17. The hands may be left free to perform the fastening operation,since the member 10 may be maintained in the tautening position bycontact of some portion of the body with the end 26 of the member 10.

By my construction there is provided a simple, easily used tool forapplying lacing strips to furniture, which tool may be produced at aprice low enough to make its purchase attractive to amateur craftsmen.My device has additional advantage of compensating for errors in 1stripalignment, thereby obviating the need for making carefulmeasurements, and also alfording a frictional engagement which assuresready manual manipulation 'against the'resiliency ofthe strip beingapplied.

While I have-described and illustrated the use of-my device with lacingstrips made" in accordance with the patentsaforesaid, it may be'readilyadapted by one skilled in the art for use with lacing strips or webbingof many other types and, accordingly, my-invention is to be construed-within the broader scope of the appended claims.

'Having'thus' -described rny-invention and illustrated :'its use, what lclaim-asnew and desire to secure by 1 Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for tautening and maintaining the entire 1 applied'length of'lacing stripswhen applying them to the "frame of furniture," comprisingan extended rigid 1 body portion having at one endstrip folding meansand strip centering means, and having at the other end a fulcrum adaptedto abutsaid frame and about which said tool may beswung in a planenormal to said frame, said holding meanscomprising a pin adapted to beremovably engaged with said strip and a pin seat formed on said one endof said tool.

2. A-tool for tautening and maintaining lacing strips when applying themto the frame of furniture, comprising an extended rigid body portionhaving at one end strip holding means and at'the other end a pluralityof shoulders adapted to be sequentially abutted against said frame --toform fulcrums with leverage of increased eccentricity as said one end ispivoted in a plane normal to said frame, said holding means comprising apin arranged to be removably engaged with said strip and a pin seatformed on said one end of said body portion.

3. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein said one end includes anauxiliary strip clamp member comprising inwardly directed angularlyoriented portions longitudinally inwardly spaced from said one end ofsaid body portion.

4. A tool for tautening and maintaining lacing strips when applying themto theframerof furniture, comprising an extended rigid body portionhaving at one end strip holding meansand at the other end a -pluralityof shoulders adapted to be sequentially abutted against said frame toform fulcrums with leverage of increased eccentn'city as said one end ispivoted in a plane normal to said frame, said one end including anauxiliary strip clamp member comprising laterally inwardly curvedportions longitudinally inwardly spaced from said one end of said bodyportion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,206,468 Robinson Nov. 28, 1916 1,503,314 French July-29, 1924 FOREIGNPATENTS 206,222 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1923 208,474 Great BritainDec."20,-1923

